12+Sansom

Urban development is a delicate balancing act, and sometimes we must say goodbye to cherished local destinations in order to make way for a plan that is ultimately more beneficial to the community and to the city at large. One of such trade-offs is slated to occur at 7619 Germantown Avenue in Mount Airy, Northwest Philadelphia, where the Trolley Car Diner is set to meet the wrecking ball, to be replaced by a six-story, mixed-use residential development designed by Morrissey Design. Although the charming chrome, neon, mural, and freestanding trolley of the diner will be missed, the proposal at hand makes for more effective use of the site, bringing significant residential density within a two0-block walk of the Mount Airy Station of the SEPTA Regional Rail and replacing the auto-centric restaurant with pedestrian-friendly retail.

Construction work is largely finished at a five-story, 21-unit mixed-use building at 1868-74 Frankford Avenue in Fishtown, Kensington. The building rises on a lot bound by Frankford Avenue to the east, East Norris Street to the north, and Blair Street to the west. Designed by Paul Drzal, the structure spans 42,000 square feet and offers a ground-level fresh market and adjacent retail space (which also extends to the cellar), elevator service, full sprinkling, and eight off-street bicycle parking spaces. Permits list Bridesburg Properties LLC as the owner and Your Best Choice Construction LLC as the contractor. The construction cost is specified at $850,000.